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G. A; CONVERSE & J. B. BERNADOU;

APPARATUS FOR MAKING BXPLOSIVES. No. 551,306.

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4?! gVMwM/II Patentd 1m, 10, 1895. v

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G. A.- GONVERSE 8: J. B. BERNADOU.

' Armm'rusron MAKINGBXPLOSIVE-SQ No. 551,306. Patented Dec. 10; 1895.

'FIILLEL 217 I eEo'iieE A. convERsE Ann JOHN O FICE.

BERNADOU, or. THE UNITED-sums =N-Avv."

APPARATUS FoR MAKING isx uoslvss.

srncrr xcarron forming part of Letters mm at. 551,806, dated December 10, 1895.

Application at Beptemhe'r 19, m5.- smart. tsaozp. on mas) we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 1

Our invention relates to improvements in apparatus forth? manufacture of masses of regular forms of uniform least dimension, generally inaccurately termed grains, from explosives while in the plastic stage, and it 1s especially intended to provide for the manufacture of uniform sheets or plates from 'nitro-cellulose or like nitro-substitution pow- 1 ders, while the said powder is the plastic state.

' The said invention will be nude-mod by reference to the accompanying drawings in which the same parts are indicated by the same letters throughout the several views.

Figure 1 represents aside elevation of the apparatus for forming the plastic powder into a continuous-strip or tape of ribbed material. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section through the compression-cylinder and showing thedie in cross-section. Fig. 3 represents an interior. view of the-detachable head for the represents a perspective view of a piece of.

, the plastic tape before it is cut up. Fig. 8

represents a perspective view of a modified form of die with the cylinder-head inclosing the same, the die being in this case annular in shape. Fig. 9 represents a transverse section through the cylinder-head before the die has been screwed into place. Fig. 10 represents an enlarged iron view ofthe annular die. Fig. 11 represents-a central vertical 7 section through the device shown in Fig. 10, and Fig. 12 represents a rear viewof the die -s hown,in Figs. 10 and 11.,

A represents a hydraulic cylinder having a piston-rod B, terminating in a piston B which engagesin the compression-cylinder G, which cylinder is flanged as at c, and is held in position by the ring D, abutting against said flanges, and the tie-rods E connecting the same to the steam-cylinde1-A.- This cylinder C isopen at both ends, and when in use is closed at the rear end by the piston B, and at the outer end by the detachable head F carrying the die. This head is provided with interrupted screw-threads f, withalternate grooves j between the same, which 4 screw-threads and grooves register with corre sponding grooves and screw-threads c and c on the exterior of the cylinder 0, as shown in Fig. 2. By having these interrupted screwthreads divided up into thre'eor more portions, it will onlybe necessary to turn the head F through a small angle in order to detach the same from the cylinder 0. This is desirable because the die. frequently becomes choked or clogged, and it becomes necessary to take. off

the head Fin order to clean the same. In order to provide for unscrewing or screwing up the head F, handles f are provided. This head F is recessed at ornear the center thereof to receive the die H, which is preferably made in two detachable portions, as shown in Figs. 4,-

5, and 6. Each of these portions is provided with an inwardly-flaring lip 72. terminating in the flat face h, which faces are spaced apart the requisite distance, in order to obtain the desired thickness of the tape,.of plastic material, by. means of the vertical shoulders h which terminate in the holding-pins hfladapted .to engage in corresponding indentations 72? of the opposite member H. On

the'interior of the member 11 inwardly-pro- 'jecting knives h are provided, sloping, asv

shown at h; to allow the free passage of the plastic material into the channel through the die. Instead of these knives, simple teeth h, such as are shown on the member H in Fig. 6, may be provided. The function of these knives or teeth is to form longitudinal indentations or grooves in one side of the dimension.

tape or strip K as it is pressed out through the die, which grooves are shown at 70 in Fig. 7. The principal function of these grooves is to furnish passages for the flame along the entire length of the strips which make up the charge in the gun, and thus to give a uniform combustion in the direction of the least These grooves divide the sheet into a. plurality of longitudinal strips 70', each connected togetherby a reduced portion of the main strip, and thus, the sheet isgiven a tendency to break longitudinally instead of transversely, when subjected to breaking strains, and so to leave longitudinal open pas sages for the flame. This is of s ecial importance since the material whendriedis very frangible, and it is desirable to make the separate sheets that constitute the charge for a gun (which sheets are ordinarily miscalled grains) of uniform length and of uniform least dimension.

K represents the sheet'of lastic material K, which is squeezed throng the die by the ressure on the piston- B. '1 his plastic sheet 'is rolled on a d'rum.M,.and in order to prevent the parts from adhering a little oil may be applied to the surface of the said tape is still sheet or tape; but this is not absolutely necessary, as the plastic material hardens and dries enough upon exposure to the open air not to stick to the layers beneath. Sincethe Elastic after leavingthe die, it is important t at a uniform. tension should be put on the same inwinding it upon the drum,

so the tape may be always. stretched a uniform amount. This is accomplished by putting any constant force at work in rotating the dr u'msuch, for instance, as by the cord P, passing over the pulleys Q and having the suspended weight R attached thereto.

In'the modified form of die shown in Figs. .8 to 12, H represents a ring screw-threaded externally, as at h'fland screwing-into the screw-threaded aperture. f in the head 'F. This ring has an opening h", which opening terminates in a rearwardly-opening recess h in-the form of a frustum of a'cone, into which conical portion fit the tapering 'ribs 12. of the die-block H The rear portion'o'f this dieblock is reduced as at h to allow the free passage from the rear of the plastic material,

' while the die-block becomes cylindrical in exterior section 'near'its forward end, which-cylindrical portion is concentric with the openings h in the ring H. There is thus anannular groove between the'block H andthe ring H through which 'the"plast'i'c material is pressed.

' 'lnorder to give the longitudinalgroove in the finished product, knives h siich as are shown in Figs. land -1 1,- or. teeth hare proi vided, such as are shown in Fig. 6.

g I These teeth or knives may-project either 'from the die-block outwardor from the inward,

foriirstiip from 5 as may he preferred, it being intended to, groove the material on one side only. j I

The plastic material is squeezed in ajtuhev likeform, with longitudinal grooves in the said tube, through the saiddiaand is then spread open longitudinallybya nife suitably 7d I placed, when the tube of plastic material may be flattened out into a sheet or tape K, as

shown in Fig. 8, and may be wound upon a 'drum similar to that shown in Fig. 1, or otherwise disposed ofa's may be desired.

. In practice the dies should be kept clean and well oiled. j

After the plastic material is squeezed out through the die, and rolled up on the drum The%se aratesheets,miscalledgrains,are

dried an bound in bundles of suitable shape,

hi, this drum is detached and-the material like fagots for kindling-wood, ready for firing in the gun. For powders of ultra-cellulose base the thickness, or at least dimension, of these sheets should be approximately one onehundredth of the caliber of the gun for which I the powder is intended.

We purpose to provide dies offvarious 'di- 'mensions for the different calibers of guns for which the powder is, intended.

It will be obvious that grooving knives or teeth may be pmvided-to dent both sides of the tape or plastic; material, and that they may be opposite each other, or interpenetrat in? it desired. i

n operation the plastic material-issimply placed into the rear end of the cylinder 0, th piston B having been in the meantime wi hdrawn to the osition shown indotted lines in Figs. 1 an 2, and. then the said pis ton is forced forward compressing the plastic material into the'front end of the cylinder and\ squeezing it out through the die it will be obvious that various modifications I ofthe herein-described apparatus might be made which could be used without departing ,jfrom'the spirit of our invention.

"vided with interru ted screw threads on the exterior thereof, '0 a detachable head provided with female screw threads also inter-- rupted. and adapted to engage in the male screw threads on'the cylinder, and a'die'insaid head through whichithe plastic material is pressed, substantiallas described.

2. 'in an apparatus orinanufaeturing anni- 'lastic material, the-combination With a cywr'ereonipressien chainher, and apistoir or plunger thei eiu, adapted.

a diemonnted in form strip from plastic material, the combination with a cylinder. or compression cham-' combination chamber,

to compress the plastic material, of a head closing the end of said cylinder-or coinpression chamber opposite said piston or plunger, said head and means for winding up the strips squeezed through said die, under a uniform tension, substantially as described. a

3.; In an apparatus for manufacturinga uniber, and a piston or plunger therein, -adapted to compress the plastic material, of a head closing the end of said cylinder, or compression chamber, a, die mounted in said head, a drum for winding up the strips squeezed through said die, and a suspended weight rotating's'aid drum and-causing a uniform tension to be exerted upen'said'stri substantially as described.

.4.- In anap 'aratusformanufacturingauni; form groove strip from plastic material, the with a cylinder, or compression and a piston or plunger therein, adapted removable head closing the end of said cylinden or piston or plunger, a die' mounted in said head and provided with a passage therethrough of essentially uniform depth, with projections from the Said die extending part ofthe waysubstantially as described.

into said passage,

'5. A die for use in apparatus'of the-characterdescribed, consisting of two superimposed parts internally tapering as shown, and

provided with an'internal passage for the v gage the plastic material opposite said piston or plunger,

, parts adapted to compress'the plastic material, of a;

compression 7 chamber, opposite saidplastic material, with projections penetrating part of the way into tially as described. v

6. A diefor use in apparatus of the character described, consistingof two superimposed parts with a passage between the parts said passage, substanofgenerally uniform depth, with parallel,

' knives projecting part ofthe way intosaid passage, the ends of said knives that firstenbeing made sloping as shown, substantially as described."

7. A die for use in apparatus of the char-,

act-er described consisting of two superimposed parts, internally tapering as shown, with'a passage between the parts of generally uniform depth, with parallel knives projecting part of tie material being made sloping as shown,- substantially asdescribed.

8. A die. composed of two-superimposed to fit together, with a rectangular passage between the same, tions sage, with an inwardly-flaring mouth on the In testimony whereof we affix oursigna- 'tures in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. CONVERSE. J J OHN B.-BERNADOU. Witnesses:

Tnos. BRUP, EDWARD W. MUIKLN.

with projec-' v projecting part of the wayinto said pas-'- the way into said passage,- the endsof said knives that first engage the plas- ,side of said die through which the plastic ma- .terial first passes, substantially as described. 

